The defining moment of the 2025 Concacaf Nations League in Los Angeles may never be topped. Panama’s stunning 1-0 upset of the U.S. in the semifinals was marked by the injury-time goal celebration of Cecilio Waterman, a 33-year-old journeyman center forward who leaped into the arms of legendary former France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

Waterman, standing face-to-face with the France World Cup winner, yelling “You’re my idol! You’re my idol!” won’t soon be forgotten.

While the USMNT squad boasted the likes of Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie, Waterman is a backup center forward for Chilean first division side Coquimbo Unido. He hasn’t scored in five matches this season, although for his national team, Waterman has 42 caps and 12 goals. He’s a respected veteran leader on the team, but on Thursday, he went from substitute No. 9 to national hero and the star of one of football’s most viral moments of the year.

And, the USMNT needs no reminding, just the latest in a growing list of occasions when Panama has proved to be the undoing of their higher-profile Concacaf rival.

“I’m very happy because of this win, happy for the group,” he said from the SoFi Stadium mixed zone after the match. “In the end we played a very good game and I was able to score in the last minute to help us win. My celebration was a beautiful moment because the day before in our hotel I was asked who my idol was and I said Henry. So when I scored, the first person I saw was Henry and I ran to hug him. I told him he was my idol. That’s it. It just happened at that moment.”

“It was an unforgettable moment for all of us because (Henry) is a football legend,” said Panama midfielder Christian Martinez. “And I’m happy for Waterman because he was able to score in the 90th minute and provide us with so much joy. That’s what we were looking for tonight.”

Waterman’s 15-year professional career has seen him play in Panama, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Peru. His highest-ever transfer value was €800,000 ($867,896), according to Transfermarkt. In a Concacaf tournament that features players from Serie A, the Premier League, Bundesliga, as well as professionals who play in Scotland, Mexico, MLS and Saudi Arabia, the star of the competition is Waterman, whose humble career has now been thrust into the spotlight.

Asked if the goal against the U.S. was the biggest of his career, Waterman nodded confidently.

“Yes, of course. It’s always great to score for the national team,” he said. “It was also a big goal for Panama. It’s our first goal scored in the (Nations League) final four, but I think the goal was a team effort and it helped us advance to a final. We hope to play our best game on Sunday.”

Panama-induced pain is nothing new for the USMNT. Last summer’s Copa America defeat was the spark for an eventual group-stage exit and Gregg Berhalter’s firing.

Panama also beat a full-strength U.S. in the 2011 and 2015 Gold Cups, and a second-string U.S. squad in the 2023 tournament. During the infamous 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, the U.S.’ fate was sealed by not only their own defeat in Trinidad and Tobago, but also Panama’s simultaneous victory over Costa Rica.

This week’s match against the U.S. also carried some political tension, certainly for the Panamanians. President Donald Trump has said on numerous occasions since being re-elected that he would reclaim ownership of the Panama Canal. During Trump’s congressional address on March 5, he reiterated his proposal to “to further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it.”

Following those remarks from Trump, Panama president Jose Raul Mulino took to social media and pushed back, assuring Panamanians that there is no imminent threat from the Americans.

“President Trump lies again,” Mulino wrote on X. “The Panama Canal is not in the process of being recovered and this was never even discussed in our conversations with (U.S. Secretary for State) Marco Rubio or with anyone else…on behalf of Panama and Panamanians this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation.”

“Is the (Panama) canal still ours?” a Panamanian reporter asked Waterman on Thursday.

“Yes,” Waterman responded with a laugh. “The canal is Panama’s but I don’t get involved in those things. I have to play football and not focus on those things. I’d rather not comment and only talk about football and on what we’re doing now as a national team.”

The diminutive Martinez sidestepped the question about whether the political rhetoric from Trump had motivated the team ahead of the semi-final. “No, but this win is dedicated to the people of Panama,” he said.

Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera subtly alluded to the political anxiety that Panamians feel at the moment.

“We want to do things right and get results in order to provide the people of Panama a moment of joy during uncertain times in Panama,” Mosquera told reporters after the match. “We want them to celebrate this win, enjoy it and forget about everything else for just a moment. That’s why we work so hard, to put smiles on the face of the people of Panama.”

Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen, a Danish-born former Barcelona player who trained under Johan Cruyff as a young pro, congratulated his team for their fight and their commitment to a common goal against the favored U.S. He was appointed as Panama coach in 2020 and is now widely considered as one of the best coaches in the region.

The normally stoic Christiansen was asked about Waterman’s celebration after the match, and how he reacted after the pro-Panama crowd, many of whom were Mexico fans, erupted when the ball beat Turner from close range.

“I think that every player celebrates the way that they want,” Christiansen said. “I don’t remember what I did. I think I ran onto the pitch. But Thierry Henry, we know what a legend he is and what he means for the game of football. And as an ex-Barcelona player, I was very happy to see him there. Would I have celebrated with him? I don’t know. All I saw were my players running to the endline to celebrate.”

Christiansen was asked what the atmosphere will be like in Panama, considering the political implications that this moment will have in the Central American country. Naturally, he said that he prefers to avoid talking about politics.

“I will use the victory to get more strength in my team,” said Christiansen. “More believing that things can happen with good work and commitment. What I can say is that Panama has to be proud of what we have achieved tonight. And of course we will enjoy it for a few hours and then we’ll focus on the final.”

U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino chastised his players in his post-game press conference for their lack of intensity, adding that Panama’s players were “hungrier” on the night. The Americans were outplayed from a physical standpoint, and Christiansen’s tactics, especially his focus on crowding the midfield and forcing the U.S. to play narrowly, frustrated the U.S. attack. Ultimately, Pochettino’s assessment was spot on and the Panama players agreed with the opposing manager.

“(Intensity) is what we wanted to show,” said Panama midfielder Adalberto ‘Coco’ Carrasquilla, who in 2023/2024 was named Concacaf Player of the Year. “Honestly, the U.S. has won this tournament three times and we haven’t been able to advance to the final,” he said. “So naturally, from a mentality standpoint, we should’ve been the ones with more hunger, right?”

Waterman’s moment in the sun will long be remembered. For a tournament whose purpose remains questionable for most international football fans, Panama has provided the world with a lasting highlight that may provide the fuel that Panama needs to win their first-ever competitive final. Sunday’s final against Mexico could serve as the launchpad that Panama needs in their quest to legitimize their football and dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

“This is what the people of Panama wanted,” Waterman said. “They’ve been telling us that we can’t score at this stage of the competition and that we hadn’t advanced to a final. I’ve already spoken to my family and several of my friends. Everyone is so happy. We all know that on Sunday it’s going to be crazy in Panama. We know how people in Panama experience national team matches. I want to make my country proud.”

(Top photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)